Course content

This course focuses on established and recent research-based theories targeting innovation management and intellectual property rights. The course centers around the key questions on how organizations can exploit and explore innovative opportunities to create competitive advantage. As such, it addresses questions on how to build and manage innovative capabilities, and how the development of technological innovations influences the direction and outcome of innovations.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

• Have in-depth knowledge of important themes, methods and challenges in innovation research
• Have detailed knowledge of stakeholders, challenges and characteristics regarding innovation at firm-, national- and regional levels
• Have basic knowledge of national and international law and processes for protection of Intellectual Property Rights
• Have good knowledge in reading academic articles as well as academic writing

Skills:

• Be able to analyze existing theories and methods within the subject area
• Under guidance, be able to carry out well-defined research and academic work within the subject area

Competence:

• Be able to communicate the topics and conduct different analyses of the field with various stakeholders

Learning methods and activities

Pedagogy: The lectures/sessions adhere to a dialogue-based approach with an interactive format, where participants will provide their own interpretations, critiques and suggestions to the syllabus. Hence, this is especially important when guest lectures are holding the lectures/sessions. In addition to this we will also have a company visit, in order to provide first-hand experience. Exact date will be announced during semester start.

Sessions/lectures: For each occasion, we will read and discuss a few articles in addition to the book chapters from the main course book. The set of articles may include theoretical and empirical work, or both. It is expected that you read all articles and to think and reflect on them before every lecture. This is important as this is an interactive course. I recommend you to first skim the assigned articles, then carefully re-read them and take notes of important information, concepts and ideas.

This course resembles more as seminar-based rather than traditional lecture courses, therefore, in order to cultivate critical thinking with regards to innovation and international business issues, participation is expected and required. Hence, guest lectures, company visit(s), and three individual assignments are mandatory for access to exam/final grade. (if possible, attendance can be done through virtual channels e.g. Zoom, Collaborate etc).

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Completed relevant undergraduate (bachelor-level) or similar education. Further information is available in the admission requirements for Master in International Business.

Required previous knowledge

This course is only available to students who have been admitted to the following programmes: - Master in International Business and Marketing, at Department of International Business (NTNU Aalesund) - Master in Business Administration, at Trondheim Business School (NTNU Trondheim) - Master in Financial Economics, and Master in Economics, at Department of Economics (NTNU Trondheim) - Master in Entrepreneurship, and Master in Industrial Economics and Technology Management, at Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management (NTNU Trondheim)

Course materials

A main course book and a number of classical and contemporary articles